Chapter 1 #2
Honestly, if Min Min and Jian Ju hadn’t forced our hands, we’d probably be in a committed relationship right now anyway.
We truly did like each other, and given a bit more time, I’d probably have fallen in love with this crazy man.
I just wished I’d been given the chance to have a more organic relationship rather than poof! Instant husband.
Zhen got up from his barstool, rinsed his bowl out in the sink and—for the grand finale—loaded it in the dishwasher. I watched him and let out a dreamy sigh.
“You’re so sexy when you do dishes.”
He laughed loudly and wiggled his ass. “It’s the view, isn’t it?”
“Absolutely. Has nothing to do with you being a responsible adult.”
Still laughing, he turned to wink. “I do try. How awake are you?”
“Fairly, why?”
“Serious talk for a second. Now that the house is sorted, we need to figure out financials.”
“Oh, now that’s a good thought for sure.”
Things had been rather up in the air the past few months.
A lot had happened, and financially, things had been a bit screwy.
My sister had moved into Zhen’s old apartment while we finished the house, which meant we’d stayed in my apartment for a while.
With half our stuff in two different places, it had been awkward, to say the least. Then we’d moved everything into the finished house, with me breaking my lease.
Zhen had covered all the expenses for the renovations, but I’d paid utility bills, groceries, and such as they popped up.
I hadn’t felt right living here without contributing, and between my inheritance and salary, I wasn’t exactly hurting.
We had to constantly double-check with each other to make sure bills were paid on time and not duplicated, though. Not exactly an efficient system.
Zhen continued, “Here’s my thought. What if we create a joint checking account for household expenses? We both put our half of what we need to run the house in there, including an estimation of what groceries or eating out will cost.”
I snapped my fingers. “Now that sounds more efficient. I can set up automatic withdrawals that way, so bills are still being paid even if we’re on the opposite end of the country.”
He beamed, pleased I’d agreed. “See? It’ll work out better. Hmm. I’m not exactly sure of the breakdown or what our total looks like.”
I held up a hand. “I’ve been putting expenses on an Excel spreadsheet to make sure bills were paid every month, so I know the totals.”
His head canted to the side, fine black hair shifting with the movement. “You’re always so organized, lao po. You even keep a spreadsheet of what books you have.”
“Because otherwise I forget what I have in paperback and buy triplicate.”
Zhen snorted, dark brown eyes crinkling up. “Now that doesn’t surprise me.”
It shouldn’t. He’d taken me on bookstore dates, after all.
“I’d have to look at the spreadsheet to give you an exact number, but between bills, groceries, and incidentals, it’s about four thousand a month since you don’t have a mortgage payment.
” Zhen had bought this house at auction for a song and paid in cash, so he was solid there.
All he had to pay were taxes and insurance, which wasn’t anything comparable to a mortgage for this house.
Especially with it all fixed up now. “Ah, but that was for a travel month, so our food bill was ridiculously high with all the eating out. It might be less on my months.”
“Either way, we should expect a crazy high month and let money accumulate if it’s not needed that particular month. Travel expenses do eat away at a paycheck. Are you comfortable paying two thousand into the account every month?”
“I am, sure. I can swing by the bank and get an account set up before I go into work today, if you want to use your usual bank?”
Zhen shrugged one shoulder. “Sure, why not?”
“Then let’s do it. I want this set up and ready to go before the next disaster strikes.”
“Music to my ears.” He came in to lean against the bar, bracing his hip against it. “How’s Charlotte liking the job, anyway, now that she’s got two months under her belt?”
“Well, the language lessons are coming apace, and she’s got the office work down pat.
It probably would have been a rougher start if not for how warmly Boss welcomed her.
I think she was so starved for true affection, she’s kind of adopted Boss as a grandmother and wants to work hard to make her happy.
Which pisses me off because I know it was our parents who made her feel that way, but I’m glad Boss has taken her under her wing. ”
Zhen looked pensive. “Agreed. I know she was mostly volunteering her time that first month, just to see if she could even do the job. She’s worked hard from day one, and she really is picking up the Mandarin pretty quickly, probably because she’s surrounded by it on a daily basis.”
“I gave her a bunch of shows to watch, too. She’s binging C-dramas and picking up phrases.
It will take her a few years, but she’ll get there.
Don’t let her fool you, she’s a smartie in disguise.
As for the job itself, she mentioned she’s happy her Hospitality degree isn’t going to waste on frivolous parties and being a good hostess to snobby guests.
That’s why our parents picked it for her, after all.
To be their prize mare.” My nose scrunched in disgust. “The matchmaking business is focused on making people comfortable and happy, which I think gives her a sense of pride knowing the past few years of hard work weren’t solely for pleasing shitty parents. ”
“That was my impression, that she’s getting the job aspect down and has really dived in.
Her Mandarin is at a kindergarten level, but the fact she’s willing to learn the language at all speaks volumes to me.
” Zhen rubbed his chin, a hint of stubble rasping against his fingers.
“I wish learning a language was instant download.”
“Wouldn’t that be nice? Still, it’s such an accomplishment when you do get conversational in a language.
I know she took a few years of French for her degree and enjoyed learning the language, so she’ll eventually get there with Mandarin, too.
I want that moment of pride for her, the sudden Hey, I can actually talk to people! It’s exhilarating.”
He buffed his nails against his shirt before inspecting them. “Hmm, I wouldn’t know.”
Fucking sassy brat. I readied an air punch, and he cackled. Zhen had gotten it easy by growing up bilingual. Learning Mandarin had taken me four years and a degree. But I guess that’s life for you.
“I’m about to get ready to head into the office. Want me to throw something into the crockpot for dinner?”
“Ooh, yes. Good thought.”
I’d thought so. I loved coming home to something already cooked. And while Zhen was a good cook, he also became easily distracted by shiny things. If he planned to be in his workshop out back, god knows when he’d actually remember to stop and come in.
In fact, he headed out to the garage as I got up to prep ingredients, so he clearly had multiple projects to work on.
It didn’t take long for me to rummage through fridge and pantry, coming up with the right ingredients for chili, a special recipe from Jasha.
Let’s face it, half my recipes came from Jasha, since he was the one who’d taught me how to cook.
Ten minutes to prepare everything and pour it into the crockpot, timer set, and presto, dinner was done.
Bagel finished, I cleaned and headed for the stairs to pick out my clothes, nearly tripping over Muchen, who’d decided the hallway was the only possible place to nap.
I received a huffed laugh for my peril. Twenty minutes later I gave Zhen a kiss goodbye, hopped in my Volvo, and away to the bank I went.
Setting up a new account when Zhen already had one at this bank was easy peasy lemon squeezy.
I made sure the new account was under both our names, transferred two thousand into it, and done.
I texted Zhen the details of the account so he could put money in as well.
If I had a quiet moment at work, I’d start setting up the automatic withdrawals for our bills.
I’d rather have it all set up now before I forgot or got distracted.
Zhen’s cases tended to be very distracting, after all.
Jasha called while I was walking out of the bank.
“Hey, friendo, what’s shakin’?”
“Hey. Zhen’s friend who’s the expert, when is he due in, again?”
“On Thursday, barring an emergency. Why?”
“Just double-checking. I want to be available when he gets in.”
“Ah, that’s fair. How’s the sword?”
“It’s good. Zhen texted he and his dad are still planning to swing by on Wednesday—something about one last check before Jo Jo flies in—so it’ll be fine until then. Probably. I don’t think it’s done anything since Zhen last put a sealing spell on it. At least nothing about the shop has been off.”
“Good to know.” After Guo had said Jasha seemed to have a magical air, Zhen and Dad had checked him over several times.
But he hadn’t shown any signs of magic either in July or August, and they’d chalked it up to energy from the sword.
Still, if the sword affected Jasha that much, the thought of Jasha being around it scared me.
Who knew what extended exposure to the sword would do?
So I was doubly glad Jo Jo was coming. “Still, we’d rather the curse be taken care of. ”
“Seriously. I swear I’ve called every extended relative and then some, but no one’s had the slightest clue about how the sword was cursed and when.”
“We might not ever figure out the answer. But don’t fret about it, Jo Jo’s beside himself with excitement. Apparently, he loves all things Norse and having an actual Viking sword to coo over is making his inner fangirl go apeshit.”
Jasha chuckled. “Well, happy to serve? So long as he doesn’t demand the sword in payment, we’re good.”
“He’s better behaved than that. Probably. Anyway, his flight is Thursday. I’m trying to keep the house clean before he gets in.”
“Good luck. I just got another batch of kitties to settle in. Speaking of, Sann and Mr. Bond adjusting back to their environment okay? They were angels while you were gone, by the way. I did see one of the huodou pop in to check on them occasionally.”
I snorted a laugh. “The huodou have decided they are very young, like children, and make sure at least one of the Pack is with the cats or checks in on them regularly. I’ve tried to explain one of them is an old man kitty, but it fell on deaf ears. Really, they just like the cats.”
“Sounds like it to me. So long as everyone’s happy, I don’t see the issue.”
“Exactly what I said. Thanks again for watching them while we were gone.”
“Sure, my pleasure.”
“I gotta go, I’m almost at work. If I’m lucky, nothing weird will happen today.”
“Did you knock on wood? Because I think you jinxed yourself.”
“Hush, you. It can’t compete with Zhen’s level of weirdness, so whatever happens, it’ll be fine.”